THE CATASTROPHE.
I was awakened by the voices of the robbers, who were leaving the cave
early in order to complete their raft by nightfall. It was evident that
they had not suspected our intrusion into their retreat, or the fact
that their stolen treasure had been taken from them. Indeed, they seemed
in high spirits, especially Larkin and Judson, who were doubtless eager
to carry out their nefarious plan of murdering their comrades as soon as
the work on the raft was finished. Daggett might also harbor a
conspiracy to secure the bulk of the treasure and probably all the
members of the evil band were looking forward to this coming night to
end their suspense and give them an advantage one over the other. “Honor
among thieves” has often been quoted; but in this instance, as in many
others that could be mentioned, the thieves were as lacking in honor as
they were in honesty.
From my elevated perch I watched them file along the ledge to the sands,
and upon reaching the level set off toward the forest. Not till they
were well out of sight did Nux or I venture to rise upright and stretch
our limbs.
The morning was warm and sultry. The sun gleamed hot in a cloudless sky
and not a breath of air stirred the leaves of the three tall trees that
stood at the edge of our towering rock.
“It’s going to be a roasting day,” I said to Nux, “and we won’t get any
shade from those trees until afternoon. Do you suppose we dare go down
to the cave for a while.”
Nux shook his head.
“We all safe now, Mars Sam,” he replied. “Better not run no risk wid dis
yeah gold dust.”
Thoughtfully I gazed toward the forest.
“Those fellows will be cool and comfortable enough in the shade,” I
remarked, rebelliously, “and I don’t believe they’ll come back through
the hot sun until it’s time to get the treasure. Let’s go down to the
sea and take a swim.”
Nux was unable to resist the temptation; so, leaving the trousers full
of golden grains resting on top of the rock, we made our way cautiously
along the narrow, winding ledge until we reached the shore.
There was not a ripple on the sea. It lay as still and inert as a sheet
of glass; but the water was cool, nevertheless, when compared with the
stifling atmosphere, and so I and my black companion paddled in it for
more than an hour, feeling much refreshed by our luxurious bath.
Afterward we ate our simple breakfast and then climbed the ledge as far
as the mouth of the cave, where we sat down in the shade. Even that
slight exertion quite exhausted us.
“We will be sure to hear them if they should by chance return,” said I,
“and we’ll certainly be roasted if we get on top of this rock, where the
sun can strike us. I believe it’s the hottest day I ever knew.”
Meantime the men in the forest were finding their work far from
pleasant, as Bryonia afterward told us. They were shaded from the sun,
it is true; but the air they breathed was as hot as if it came fresh
from an oven, and the least exertion caused the perspiration to stream
from their pores. So there was considerable grumbling among them and a
general shirking of work that made their progress slow. Even Bryonia,
who was fairly heat-proof, found he had little energy to swing his axe,
although he made a pretense of working as industriously as ever.
“Never mind, boys,” said Daggett, when noon had arrived and they were
eating the luncheon they had brought in their pockets. “The raft will be
big enough to carry us and the gold to the ship, I’m sure, for the sea
is as still as a mill-pond. We’ll just get these two logs to the shore,
and fasten them to the others, and call the thing a go. What do you
say?”
They agreed with him readily enough. As a matter of fact the raft might
suffice to carry them all, but none of them believed that all five would
embark upon it, so many murderous schemes were lurking in their minds.
Wearily they dragged the two logs toward the sea, but much time was
consumed in this operation, and the day was far spent before the raft
was complete and ready to launch.
Most of the men had stripped themselves naked, to work more comfortably,
for the heat was well-nigh unbearable; but now, as they stood ready to
push the raft into the water, the sun suddenly disappeared and a cold
chill swept over them.
“We’re going to have a storm,” cried Daggett, looking curiously into the
sky. “Better leave the raft where it is, my lads, and make for the
cave.”
The warning was unquestionable. Already a low, moaning sound came to
their ears across the sea, and the sky grew darker each moment.
With one accord the men seized their clothing in their arms and ran
along the beach toward the cave, while tiny points of lightning darted
here and there about them, casting weird if momentary gleams upon their
naked forms.
Nux and I sitting half asleep by the mouth of the cave, were warned by
the first chill blast that swept over us that the weather had changed
and a storm was imminent. Springing to my feet I looked fearfully at the
darkening sky.
“What’ll we do, Nux?” I asked. “This will bring our enemies back here in
double-quick time.”
“Better climb on top de rock, Mars Sam,” advised the Sulu.
“But it’ll rain—floods and torrents, probably—and thunder and lightning
besides.”
“’Spect it will, Mars Sam. But rain wont hurt us much.”
“And Daggett’s gang will, if they catch us. I guess you’re right, Nux.
Come along.”
As we started along the ledge the wind came upon us in sudden gusts, and
the sky grew so dark that we almost had to feel our way. It was
necessary to exercise great care, both to find a secure footing and to
cling fast to the face of the rock, to prevent our being blown into the
abyss below; but we struggled manfully on, and presently reached the
top, where Nux hoisted me over the edge and then scrambled after me.
By this time the lightning was playing all around us, and we were
obliged to crawl carefully on hands and knees to the little hollow in
the center of the rock, where we were to an extent shielded from the
fierce gusts of wind. Even then I feared we would be blown away; but Nux
shouted in my ear to hold fast to the gold, which served as a sort of
anchor, and enabled us both, as we lay flat in the hollow, to maintain
our positions securely.
And now the lightning began to be accompanied by sharp peals of thunder,
while the wind suddenly subsided to give place to wild floods of rain.
At intervals could be heard the shouts of the robbers, who had reached
the rocks and were creeping along the ledge to their cave. All the
elements seemed engaged in a confused turmoil, until I was nearly
deafened by the uproar. I tried to ask a question of Nux, but could not
hear my own voice, and gave up the attempt. The thought crossed my mind
that we had been very foolish to climb to this peak of rock, where we
were exposed to the full fury of the storm, and I wondered vaguely, as I
clung to the sack of gold we had risked so much to secure, how long it
would be before the wind swept us away, or we would be annihilated by a
bolt of lightning.
Presently an arm was laid across my back, as if to protect me, and
raising my head I saw by the light of a vivid flash that Bryonia had
joined us and was lying in the hollow at my side.
I wondered how the daring Sulu had ever managed to reach us; but the
strong arm gave me a new sense of security, and impulsively I seized the
black man’s hand and pressed it to express my gratitude and welcome.
An instant later a terrible crash sounded in my ears, while at the same
time a blast of fire swept over the rock and seemed to bathe our three
prostrate figures in its withering flame. Again came a crash; and
another—and still another, while the crisp lightning darted through the
air and made each nerve of our bodies tingle as if pricked by myriads of
needle points.
Half bewildered, I raised my head, and saw the great rocking-stone sway
from side to side and then plunge headlong into the gulf that lay
between the precipice and the solitary rock whereon we reclined. And I
felt the mighty column of rock shake and lean outward, as if about to
topple into the sea, while the impact of the fallen mass reverberated
above the shriek of the wind and the thunder’s loudest roar.
Instinctively I braced myself for the end—the seemingly inevitable
outcome of this terrible catastrophe; but to my surprise no violent
calamity overwhelmed us. Instead, the lightning, as if satisfied with
its work of destruction, gradually abated. The blinding flashes no
longer pained my closed eyes with their vivid recurrence, and even the
wind and rain moderated and grew less violent.